Kendrick Lamar is one of the most dynamic voices in hip-hop in a generation. The Compton, California, native burst onto the scene as a teenager, recording under the moniker K-Dot. In 2011, while adopting the name Kendrick Lamar (he was born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) he released Section.80, his debut studio album, on Top Dawg Entertainment.
The following decade saw Kendrick become a superstar in the world of hip-hop. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, his 2012 album, was a blockbuster breakthrough, one that established Kendrick as the genre’s new shining star. In 2015, he unleashed To Pimp A Butterfly, an album that experimented with jazz sounds and continued his socially-conscious lyrics. The follow-up, 2017’s DAMN, saw him reach new critical and commercial heights, with songs like “Humble” and “Loyalty,” a collaboration with Rihanna. Highly prolific and highly in-demand, Kendrick popped on 30+ singles as a featured rapper, and continues to be a voice that shines through.
Scroll through the gallery below to see pics of Kendrick through the years!
